On November 6–7, 2024, Brussels hosted the annual meeting of the Ghent Group, a dynamic community of European institutes and experts providing science-based advice on agriculture and environmental policies. This year’s discussions centered on the role of science in tackling policy dilemmas, highlighting methods to bridge the gap between research and policymaking.

The event opened with a Living Labs Workshop, organized by the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security, and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI). This session explored how Living Labs serve as innovative tools for co-creation, fostering feedback loops between research and policy. Key findings highlighted the need for sustained resources, diverse stakeholder involvement, and adaptive methodologies to ensure impact.

The program also included a focus on policy coherence, a session led primarily by FACCE-JPI. Workshops examined methodologies to align local, national, and European policies for healthier, more sustainable food systems. Case studies, such as the Cleverfood project on urban food policies, illustrated both successes and challenges in integrating governance levels and managing implementation gaps.

A major highlight of the event was the Mansholt Lecture, organized by Wageningen University & Research. The lecture addressed key land use dilemmas at the intersection of agriculture, forestry, and nature conservation, sparking reflections from Members of the European Parliament.

The meeting concluded with a forward-looking agenda for 2025, emphasizing enhanced collaboration, impact measurement, and integrity in policy advice. The Ghent Group aims to strengthen its role as a vital forum for sharing best practices and fostering innovative approaches to science-policy interaction.

For more details, visit the Ghent Group website or explore the Mansholt Lecture insights.